Radio Free Silver Lake

Giveaway & Show Spotlight: Lonesome Heroes, Western States Motel, Olentangy John at the Outpost

By Kathryn Pinto

Indie and western duo the Lonesome Heroes came to our attention when their guitarist and singer Rich Russell shared some of his teriffic photos of the Lonely Wild's show at South By Southwest in Austin this spring. One of the best things about being part of the music community is that you can reach out to someone as a photographer and  it turns out that he his own excellent band and--extra bonus--the other half of the duo is a talented and inventive visual artist, too. This Saturday May 26 the Lonesome Heroes play the Echo Country Outpost along with perennial RFSL favorites The Western States Motel and Olentangy John. Lonesome Heroes' singer/dobro player Landry McMeans has a weeklong exhibiton of cardboard relief art works at the Outpost from May 21-27. Set times are:  6pm-Art reception/ BBQ, 8pm- Olentangy John, 9pm-Lonesome Heroes 10pm- Western States Motel

The Lonesome Heroes come to Los Angeles as part of a three week tour in support of their debut full-length Daydream Western, a deserted highway stretch of country-tinged indie rock winding through the places in between Brooklyn and Texas.

In celebration of this show the Lonesome Heroes are giving away two Lonesome Heroes gift packs that include a CD, Landry McMeans art print and a big Texas welcome to the show (the Echo Country Outpost is a non-profit, donation-only space). To enter, send an email with your full name and any comments to RFSLpinto@gmail.com, include "Lonesome Heroes Saturday at the Outpost" in the subject header. We need to receive your email by NOON Friday. Winners can pick up their gift packs at the Outpost the night of the show. Good luck to all and hope to see you there.

 

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The Lonesome Heroes play the Echo Country Outpost Saturday, May 26 with the Western States Motel and Olentangy John. The show starts at 6pm on the patio with BBQ, refreshments and bands. Entry is by donation only, but $10 donations are warmly appreciated. 

 

Music We Like: Little Red Lung (EP)

By Kathryn Pinto

Genre-defying Little Red Lung came to us not through Zoë-Ruth Erwin, front and center of the project, but because of drummer Nathan Kondor who also plays with RFSL faves George Glass. George Glass is dyed-in-the-wool boy rock—the pleasure in the music is in seeing how far down and around the block a guy can take a guitar line. It’s like trading baseball cards, beauty in the detail and knowledge of minutiae, which on its own terms is an excellent, but quite distinct flavor.

Little Red Lung, who release their self-titled EP at The Satellite tonight, is something else entirely. It’s about the broad epic sweep of sound, aural space not as a small soundproofed practice space, but a sweeping cloud-churned landscape that requires a wide horizontal expanse. The self-titled EP is dramatic and orchestral in its breadth and ambitious in its construction. Credits include strings, brass and a percussion section of marimba, glockenspiel, vibraphone and woodblocks in addition to drums. These arrangements evoke a deep dark velvety chocolate night, a gypsy feel with a nod to Devotchka, the 7”, 45 rpm operas of Roy Orbison, and the windblown moors of Kate Bush.

You’d swear that Erwin has the kind of voice you’d have if yours would only cooperate. Her vocals play as an instrument, their power to convey emotion in restraint--to connect with the listener by holding back, rather than through a struggle against the body to get a sound and a feeling out. On songs like “Ink Blot” and “Into a Landfill” lyrics are ambiguous, yet rich with imagery that suggests misinterpretations, miscommunication and love gone wrong, and in “Into a Landfill” a wish that the narrator could have identified deal breaking flaws a bit earlier in the story. This is an outstanding record from a band that is not afraid to be itself, ambitious and unreserved.

 

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Little Red Lung plays a record release show tonight, Thursday May 10 at The Satellite, 1717 Silverlake Blvd, LA, 90026, presented by LA Underground. New self-titled EP available at: iTunes, Amazon, Bandcamp, and littleredlung.com. Seasons, Dorian Wood, and San Francesca open. Doors at 8:30 pm, show: 9:00 pm $8.00, 21+.

Album Giveaway: LA Font, Races, NO, In the Shadow of the Mountain

By Kathryn Pinto

Sometimes we wish everyone could win the giveaways, so in that spirit these albums are available to all. Let me bring your attention to a handful of albums and EPs available to you as a free download (or streaming). Follow the links on band names to the download pages. In addition to LA Bands, there are a couple in there from Boise (Idaho--the one with all the potatoes and sugar beets), which is hosting its inaugural Treefort Music Fest this weekend. The festival lineup includes of Montreal, Built to Spill, Blitzen Trapper, AU, The Parson Red Heads and a many more bands the Northwest.

In the Shadow of the Mountain
Barn Owl Records out of Boise, Idaho is offering up several free downloads on the occasion of the Treefort Music Festival. One of the best is In the Shadow of the Mountain, a two-piece from Boise who play a genre-defying sound that runs the gamut from experimental outer sound to melodic vocal lines to jazz percussion. The duo plays a rare live show Saturday afternoon at the Treefort Music Festival.

In The Shadow of the Mountain - hey hey by Treefort Music Fest

 

Races
Races is streaming their forthcoming album Year Of The Witch which will be released  March 27th on Frenchkiss Records. In support of the album Races embarks on a West Coast tour next week, playing an album release show March 30 at The Echo.

 

LA Font
LA Font offer up a digital album (free or name your price) on their bandcamp page. If you missed their excellent show last Monday at The Echo you can catch them  tonight at Rafa's Lounge in Echo Park.

NO
Despite returning from SXSW only hours earlier, NO filled the room for their most recent Monday residency show at The Echo, many in the audience (who presumably already downloaded the free EP) singing along. They play the final night of their March residency Monday night at The Echo.

 

Album Giveaway: Western States Motel - Freeway Freeway Riverbed

By Kathryn Pinto

Radio Free Silver Lake likes you. We're a little shy, but as a little token of our affection we want to give two lucky readers a copy of the Western States Motel's latest album Freeway Freeway Riverbed, courtesy of the band. We're excited to share this album with you. Radio Freee Silver Lake named the album of one of LA's Best of 2011, saying that:

WSM lead Carl Jordan is a virtual maestro at weaving surprisingly complex arrangements with just a handful of tools. Evoking a strong American Southwestern atmosphere, the tales of life on the road offer more plain-spoken, unpretentious observations aided by the lilting and very catchy melodies. And seeing the songs brought to life by a full band at their November On The Rox residency showed off the material's durability.

To enter the giveaway, send an email to RFSLpinto(at)gmail(dot)com with "Western States Motel Album Giveaway" in the subject header and your full name in the message text. Send it by NOON, Tuesday February 21. Good luck to all.

Sweet Giveaway (Tix and stuff): KROQ Locals Only Presents: Young The Giant, Vanaprasta, and SMILES at The Roxy

By Joel Robinson

A sweet giveaway just in to us here at Radio Free Silver Lake. LA locals, including local faves Vanaprasta, will be working the KROQ Locals Only presentation over at The Roxy this Saturday. The full night includes Young The Giant, Vanaprasta, and SMILES.

Thanks to some friends, RFSL is able to offer free entry to a winner and guest to catch this great night of fun.  In addition, our lucky winner will also receive his/her very own copy of the Vanaprasta 7" Forming The Shapes.

Have a look at all going on here and then get in on the mix. Drop an e-mail to "RFSLjoel(at)gmail(dot)com” that includes "Vanaprasta at The Roxy" in the subject line and your full name (and any other comments you may have) in the e-mail text. You will need to get that e-mail to us by NOON Tomorrow (Friday).



Yes, short notice. But well worth a bit of a rush for a chance like this. -jdr

CD Giveaways: Light FM will be sharing copies of a great CD tonight at the Echo

By Joel Robinson

Radio Free Silver Lake again wishes to thank our guest Video Free Silver Lake host Light FM for today's posting. In return, Light FM presents RFSL readers with another terrific reason to attend their show tonight at the Echo, where they will be performing along with Marvelous Toy and Future Ghost in celebration as local faves Wait. Think. Fast. celebrate the release of their new album Luces del Sur.

And the additional enticement to attend tonight's show (not that any is really needed)? How about your chance for a free copy of the Let There Be Light FM CD. These will be available for you to pick up tonight during the celebration. Just swing by the Light FM merchandise table and let them know that you saw this note on RFSL and you will have a chance at receiving your very own copy of this terrific album! It will be a "first come, first served" giveaway, so do not dally!

Enjoy a terrific night all! -jdr

Giveaways: UPDATE on Radars To The Sky tomorrow night!

By Joel Robinson

This just in from Radars to the Sky:

"We're happy to announce that The Henry Clay People (not the ridiculous pseudonym we had to give them) will be joining our record release show tomorrow, Thursday 8/26 at Spaceland for our first full-length album, Supra / Infra. 

Highlights of the show:

- Buzzbands.la (who wrote a nice feature on our single, "Mirror," here) is helping put on the show and will be DJ'ing.

- Smokers in Love start things off with their Constantines meets Joy Division power.

- Death to Anders showcases some excellent new material, which you can check out here.

- Radars to the Sky -- that's us -- will play the bulk of our new album, mostly in order, joined by a bunch of people who helped record the album.  You can read reviews of the album from Web in Front here and from LA Times Brand X here.

- The Henry Clay People , who need no introduction finish off the night. 

 

Note: we have an unlimited $5 list. Anyone who emails us by 4:00 pm tomorrow gets in for just $5 ($7 at the door).  21+.  Doors at 8:00.  Music at 8:30. 

 

You can also check out our video for "Selfish Kids," premiered at LA Times Brand X right here, and at our myspace page. 

 

Best,

 

Andrew, Kate, Kenny, Rob, Peter

Radars to the Sky"

 

(Joel here again) So it just keeps on getting better and better. Have a look at RFSL's original giveaway post as found here then act as you will!

 

Giveaway(s): Radars To The Sky celebrates release of their first full-length with show and CD giveaways!

By Joel Robinson

Still Tuesday here at Radio Free Silver Lake and still more great stuff a-coming our way! With this week's offerings, everybody is a winner.

This Thursday, RFSL friends Radars to the Sky will be celebrating the release of their first full length album Supra / Infra, and would love for as many RFSL readers as possible to join in on the fun. RFSL compatriot blog, Buzzbands, presents the commemorative night as dj'd by Buzzbandster Kevin Bronson. Radars to the Sky will be at Spaceland, joined on the evening by Death To Anders, Smokers In Love, and a RFSL favorite we'll call "The James K. Polk Folk" (for now).

With Supra / Infra (cover art seen at left) now available for our ears, we will be reminded of the tremendous quality of music Radars to the Sky provides; and with them on stage at Spaceland come Thursday night, we will be reminded once again of how well their stage presence delivers it.

Along with Radars to the Sky, Death To Anders returns to the stage. Smokers In Love join in on the fun as well. But wait, there's more; "The James K. Polk Folk" join the party themselves (he types as if he knows what he's talking about)...more about that later this week!

So, on to the giveaways...Thanks to Radars to the Sky, we are able to offer free entry to one lucky RFSL reader and guest along with a free copy of Supra / Infra. But again there's more! Thanks also to RttS, ALL readers who enter the contest will be able to pick up their very own free copy of Supra / Infra at the show come Thursday night!

So enter the mix by dropping an e-mail to "RFSLjoel(at)gmail(dot)com” (if you are 21 or older). Include "Radars to the Sky at Spaceland" in the subject line and your full name (and any other comments you may have) in the e-mail text. To be certain you get in the mix, we'll need that e-mail by Noon on Thursday.

Remember, no losers here: One free show + CD winner; a free CD for all who enter the contest and attend the show (where they may pick-up said CD); and a terrific show and great new album for all! Thanks, Radars to the Sky! -jdr

Album Giveaway: Celebrate the release of SPELLS from The Happy Hollows by winning your very own copy

Yes, RFSL readers, you read that right. Today we celebrate the release by Autumn Tone Records of the outstanding album SPELLS by The Happy Hollows!

If you do not already own this album and have not already listened to it many, many times, I must wonder why. And I must send you my condolences on having missed it thus far. And I must say this could be your lucky day in that you may win a copy of it. And I must suggest you purchase a copy even if you win the freebie (this thing would be an ace gift for a friend).

As part of the celebration some lucky winner will receive the following:

• A copy of Spells on CD
• A Happy Hollows 7"
• A sticker and a band t-shirt

With SPELLS, Sarah, Charlie and Chris deliver the terrific sound that they have been sharing throughout the neighborhood since their inception as The Happy Hollows. Awesome! For further insight, check out the excellent feature on The Happy Hollows as conducted recently by the Huffington Post. A very nice piece there. After that, get the album. It is so worth it! Check the tracklisting from this a-one offering as found at the left. So worth it! (it is not redundancy when it is the truth each and every time it is said)

Oh yeah, and back to the celebration at hand. To get in on the mix at possibly winning this kick-a$$ prize pack, drop a line to "RFSLjoel(at)gmail(dot)com” with "SPELLS" in the subject line and your full name in the message text. Be certain we receive it before NOON next Tuesday, February 2, and that's it...you'll be in the mix!

And while you wait, get the album and start enjoying! -jdr

Album Giveaway: Signal Hill

by Joe Fielder

From now through this Sunday night, Radio Free Silver Lake readers will be able to download LA post rock act Signal Hill's debut album More After We're Gone -- one of our top picks in our the favorite CDs of 2009 feature -- for FREE.

Just follow the directions in the window below and enjoy.

Many thanks to the guys in Signal Hill (who have been in the studio working on their follow-up to this release) for making this possible.